Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

CONCEPT:

Soap Molecules, Micelles, and Detergents

• Soap molecules are typically sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids. These molecules have a structure that includes both hydrophobic (water-repelling) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) ends.
• When soap is dissolved in water, it forms structures called micelles. In these micelles, the hydrophobic ends cluster together, while the hydrophilic ends face outward towards the water.
• Detergents are synthetic cleaning agents that are often more effective than soap in hard water because they do not react with calcium and magnesium ions to form insoluble precipitates.

EXPLANATION:

• Micelles are formed when soap or detergent molecules are added to water and interact with dirt or oil particles. The correct structure of micelles involves:
  • The hydrophobic (non-polar) end of the soap molecules being directed towards the oil droplet or dirt particles.
  • The hydrophilic (ionic/polar) end facing outward into the water.
• In micelles the ionic-end of the molecules is towards oil droplet while the other end faces outside is incorrect because the ionic (hydrophilic) end of the soap molecules does not face towards the oil droplet. Instead, the hydrophobic (non-polar) end is directed towards the oil droplet, while the ionic end faces outward into the water.

Therefore, the incorrect statement is In micelles the ionic-end of the molecules is towards oil droplet while the other end faces outside.